Chapter 1

Sia Bennett thought meeting the ruthless Summit Alpha was just a formality. Until she smelled him. Cedar, gunpowder, and pure, unadulterated sin.

Kaelen Voss is her Fated Mate. He is also her mother's fiancé.

By day, Kaelen plays the role of the cold, distant stepfather. But by night, he invades her personal space, his dark whispers and stolen touches pushing her to the madness.

"Be a good girl, Sia," he warns, his hand sliding dangerously high up her thigh under the family dinner table. "And don't let Mommy hear you scream."

Caught between loyalty to her mother and a mate bond that demands mate's love, Sia is fighting a losing battle. Because in this house, the Alpha always eats first.

Chapter 1

[Kaelen's POV]

I almost fucked my mate. And she is my fiancée's daughter.

The Moon Goddess is a bitch. She loves to dangle exactly what you want right in front of you, then smash it while you watch.

I'm thirty-five. I waited ten years after rejecting my first cheating mate. I thought my heart was dead. Until tonight.

Now, I have my second chance mate trapped in my arms.

She feels impossibly soft. She smells like vanilla and wild berries. It's driving me insane.

My wolf is roaring inside my chest. He wants me to bite her neck. He wants to mark her so deep that her only purpose is to scream my name while I take her.

She is my Fated Mate. The only light in my dark life.

But right now, she is shaking, looking at me with tears in her eyes, and shouting the one title that sends me straight to hell.

Five minutes ago, I didn't know this girl, the one who makes me rock hard, is the daughter of the woman I'm supposed to marry.

5 Minutes Earlier - Flashback

The private suite at the "Black Velvet" Club smelled like expensive cologne and fake luxury.

I loosened my tie, irritated. I stared at the whiskey in my hand. My mother's threat rang in my ears, "Meet Dr. Vivian Bennett, Alpha Kaelen Voss. For the future of the Pack."

Fuck the future.

I didn't want a Luna forced on me for politics. I didn't care how good this doctor was. To me, she was just a business deal.

I gave her five minutes. If she didn't show, I was leaving.

Just then, the door opened.

I expected heavy perfume. Instead, I smelled... damn. What was that?

Vanilla. Wild berries. Sweet. Potent.

The scent hit me like a physical blow. It filled my nose and woke up my desire instantly.

Crack. The glass in my hand shattered.

MATE.

My wolf went crazy. He screamed one command, Catch her. Rip her clothes. Own her.

I snapped my head toward the door.

[Sia's POV]

Yesterday, rogues attacked the Valley Pack. The hospital where Mom works is overcrowded. She was too busy, so she asked me to apologize to her arranged mate, Kaelen Voss.

Rumor said he was ruthless. He rejected his first Luna and turned her into a rogue.

I pushed the door open. I knew instantly I had walked into a lion's den.

The suite was dim. I saw the Alpha sitting in the shadows.

Moon Goddess... he was deadly handsome.

He had eyes like molten gold. But his aura was terrifying. It was the crushing pressure of a dominant Alpha, mixed with cedar, gunpowder, and whiskey.

That scent squeezed my heart. My knees went weak.

"Come here."

It wasn't a request. It was a growl.

Before I could speak, he moved. He was too fast. Just a blur of heat.

The next second, the world spun.

"Mmhp!"

My back hit the door. A hot, hard body pressed against mine.

I was trapped. His hands caged my face. He was huge. The size difference scared me, but my body... my body cheered for it.

He didn't give me a second to breathe.

His mouth crashed down on mine.

His tongue forced my lips apart, sweeping into my mouth with the taste of strong whiskey and pure dominance.

He kissed me like a starving man, his tongue tangling with mine, deep and wet, sucking the air right out of my lungs.

I froze, my hands hovering uselessly over his chest. I didn't know how to kiss back. I just stood there, trembling, letting him devour me whole.

He bit my lower lip, hard enough to sting, before finally pulling back slightly. A strand of silver saliva connected our lips.

"You act like a virgin, mate. Are you really 36?" His voice was rough, dangerous, and sexy.

I was a virgin. I was saving myself for my mate. Now, he just took my first kiss.

My legs shook. I felt wet between my legs. My wolf whimpered, lowering her head to this powerful Alpha, begging to submit.

"You smell... fucking incredible."

He buried his face in my neck. His nose dragged along my skin. It felt like an electric shock.

"Ah..." A broken moan escaped my lips.

That sound was a trigger.

His large hand slid down my waist. Through my thin dress, he grabbed my small breast, squeezing it possessively. Then his hand went lower, gripping my hip.

His palm was hot. He wanted to crush me into him.

His knee forced my legs apart. The friction snapped the last thread of my sanity.

He was telling me, He is the King. I am the prey.

"Screw it. You're already here. No escaping now, Doctor."

I wanted to speak. But his lips grazed my ear. His hot breath made me shiver.

I felt his sharp teeth lengthening. They scraped against the sensitive spot on my neck.

He wanted to mark me. Right here.

Pleasure and fear crashed into me. My fingers clawed at his expensive suit.

I was going to be his.

But a split second before I lost my mind, my mother's tired face flashed in my head. "Sia, be polite. He is your future stepfather."

Stepfather.

The word was like thunder. It cleared the fog in my brain.

"No... no..." I shook my head, crying, trying to push him away.

Just as his teeth touched my skin, I screamed,

"Alpha Kaelen! Stop! I'm your fiancée's daughter!"

The air froze.

The man went rigid. The beast stopped.

Slowly, he lifted his head. Those golden eyes, once full of lust, now flashed with shock. He stared at me like he wanted to eat me alive, but he didn't move.

"...What did you say?" His voice was ice cold.

I shrank back, sobbing.

"I am Dr. Vivian Bennett's daughter... I'm Sia... Mom couldn't make it... You are my stepfather..."

Chapter 2

[Kaelen's POV]

Vivian's daughter. Stepfather.

Those words were like rusty knives stabbing my heart.

I looked at the girl.

She was too young. She looked like a college student. Her blue eyes were red from crying. Her messy blonde hair stuck to her sweaty cheeks.

She looked delicious.

She was my Mate. The only woman who could drive me mad.

But she was the damn daughter.

I looked at the red marks on her white neck, my marks. I wanted her. But I couldn't have her.

My wolf howled in mourning. He didn't want to give up. I bit my tongue until I tasted blood, using the pain to force myself back.

One second later. If she spoke one second later, I would have been burying myself inside her.

I stared at her. My voice sounded like a demon.

"Get out."

If she didn't leave right now, I would ignore every rule. I would chain her to my bed and fuck her until she forgot the word "Stepfather."

[Sia's POV]

My body betrayed me.

The taxi hit every pothole in the Valley district, but I didn't care. I was burning up.

It wasn't a fever. It was desire.

I clutched my dress, gasping. Every breath smelled like him, cedar and gunpowder. It was stuck in my hair, my skin.

He is your stepfather.

I repeated it again and again. But the image of Kaelen's golden eyes only made the ache between my legs worse.

I could still feel his hand on my hip. His tongue on my neck.

"Miss? You okay?" the driver asked.

"Just... drive faster."

When I got home, the smell of antiseptic hit me. Mom was there.

She was slumped on the sofa in her scrubs. She looked gray and exhausted. The hospital work was killing her.

Seeing her like that felt like a slap.

She worked herself to death for me. To pay my tuition. And what did I do? I went to apologize to her fiancé and almost let him claim me on the floor.

"Sia?" Mom sat up. "You're back. Was Alpha Kaelen angry?"

Guilt choked me.

I couldn't tell her. I couldn't ruin her chance at safety and status.

"I..." I swallowed the lie. "He was... scary, Mom. I apologized and left."

Mom smiled sadly. "I'm sorry, honey. He has a cold reputation. But he's powerful. Neither I nor Alpha Jacob can refuse him." She sighed. "Maybe he will protect us."

Protect us. I shivered. That man didn't want to protect me. He wanted to own me.

"I'm tired, Mom. Goodnight."

I ran to my room and locked the door.

I curled up under my duvet, trembling.

My hand slipped inside my shirt, touching my breasts. They weren't big like Mom's. But when he touched them, my nipples got so hard.

I wasn't safe. My body craved the monster. But I couldn't have him.

[Kaelen's POV]

The water was freezing.

I stood in the shower, head down. My knuckles were white.

"Fuck!"

I punched the wall. The black stone cracked.

It wasn't enough. My cock was painfully hard. It throbbed, demanding release.

But I couldn't touch it. My wolf snarled. He refused any relief that wasn't her.

Sia.

I closed my eyes. I saw her trembling body. I heard her broken whimper. I tasted her fear and sweetness.

She was mine.

But she was forbidden.

I turned off the shower and walked out naked, dripping wet. On the table lay the file my Beta compiled.

I opened it. The photo on top was a family portrait.

Vivian Bennett. Elegant. Suitable. The perfect trophy Luna.

And next to her... Sia.

In the photo, she smiled like an angel. But I knew the truth. She was a siren, dragging me to hell.

I couldn't mark her. She was 18. A fresh college student. I was the Summit Alpha, her future "father." The scandal would destroy her and humiliate her mother.

'Let her go,' my conscience whispered. 'Never', my beast roared.

If I couldn't eat the prey, I would cage it. I needed her close. I needed to ensure no other male looked at her.

If I left her in the Valley Pack, some stupid pup might try to court her.

The thought made my vision red. I would kill any male who breathed near her.

I grabbed my phone. 3,00 AM. I didn't care.

"Prepare the cars," I commanded my Beta. "We're moving Dr. Bennett and her daughter to the Estate. Today."

"Why?" Theo sounded sleepy.

"Security," I lied. But the hunger in my voice was obvious. "The Valley isn't safe. I want my... family... where I can see them."

[Sia's POV]

The next morning, loud engines woke the neighborhood.

I dragged myself out of bed and looked out the window.

My breath stopped. The street was blocked by a line of black, armored SUVs.

And leaning against the lead car was him.

Kaelen.

He wore a suit that cost more than my building. He wore sunglasses, but I felt his gaze snap to my window instantly.

He knew where I was.

"Sia! Get dressed! Alpha Kaelen is here!" Mom yelled excitedly.

Chapter 3

[Sia's POV]

Panic choked me. I threw on a hoodie and jeans to hide my skin. To hide the scent of my arousal.

When I walked into the living room, Kaelen filled the doorway. He sucked all the air out of the room.

He took off his sunglasses. Those golden eyes pinned me down.

"Alpha Kaelen insists we move to the Summit Estate," Mom said nervously. "Because of the attacks... he wants us safe. Isn't that generous?"

No. It was a capture.

"Sia," Mom waved at me. "Come say hello. This is Alpha Kaelen Voss. We will be part of his family."

I forced my legs to move. I stared at his tie knot. I couldn't look at his face.

"Hello... Alpha Kaelen," I whispered.

"Please," his voice vibrated through the floor. "We're going to be living together. No formalities."

He extended a large hand.

I hesitated. Mom was watching. I had no choice. I put my small hand in his.

Zap.

A spark of static electricity snapped between us. Sharp. Painful.

His fingers tightened instantly. It wasn't a handshake; it was a grip. His thumb pressed against my wrist, feeling my racing pulse.

He pulled me closer, invading my space.

"It's a pleasure to officially meet you, Sia," he said smoothly.

Then, he leaned down. Only I could see the dark hunger in his eyes. A cruel, sexy smirk played on his lips.

"Although," he murmured, his thumb stroking my wrist, sending fire up my arm. "We met yesterday, didn't we?"

I froze, trapped in the wolf's grip.

***

The Summit Pack's Estate was a fortress carved out of obsidian and glass, perched on the edge of a cliff.

"Dr. Bennett, you will be in the East Wing guest suite," Theo, Kaelen's Beta, announced efficiently as we stood in the cavernous foyer. He was polite, but his eyes held no warmth. "And Miss Sia..."

He checked his tablet. "Alpha Kaelen requested you in the Master Wing. The room next to his. For... maximum security."

My stomach dropped. It sounded like maximum surveillance.

"That's very thoughtful!" Mom chirped.

Suddenly, Mom's pager beeped. "Emergency surgery. Pile-up on the interstate. I have to go."

"Go," I said quickly, though panic was already icing my veins. "I'll be fine."

"Sorry sweetie, I'll be back tomorrow." Mom hugged me hastily and rushed out. The heavy front door clicked shut.

The house fell into a suffocating silence.

The Omega servants moved like ghosts, eyes lowered, terrified to make a sound. Dinner was lonely. Kaelen never appeared.

But his presence was everywhere. The smell of cedar and gunpowder seeped into the walls.

By midnight, my throat felt like sandpaper.

I couldn't sleep. The silence was loud. I needed water.

I crept out of my room. The hallway was dark. I got lost in the massive house.

I took a wrong turn, then another, ending up in a wing I didn't recognize.

The air here was hotter. The Alpha scent was thick, smelling like storm clouds and musk. It made my belly ache.

I saw a light from a door at the end of the hall. An office.

The door was cracked open.

I raised my hand to knock, but a sound stopped me dead.

"Sia..."

It was Kaelen. He groaned my name. Low, painful, and full of need.

I froze. I should have run. Every instinct screamed at me to run. But I pressed my eye to the crack in the door.

The office was dark. He sat in a leather chair, back to the door, facing the window, looking out at the moonlit forest.

His suit jacket was gone. His white dress shirt was unbuttoned, hanging off his broad shoulders.

And he was moving.

His right arm was moving in a steady, rhythmic motion near his lap.

I couldn't see what he was holding, the high back of the chair blocked my view, but I could see the muscles in his back bunching and flexing with every jerk of his arm.

Slick. Wet. Heavy. The sound of friction filled the silence.

My breath hitched in my throat. I knew that sound. I knew what he was doing.

Heat flooded my face, my chest, my thighs.

I watched the way his head fell back, exposing the thick column of his throat. His hand moved faster, harder, as if he was trying to punish himself.

Then, he spoke again.

"Fuck... Sia... you little torment..."

The sound of my name on his lips, mixed with the wet, rhythmic sound of his pleasure, shattered my world.

Chapter 4

[Kaelen's POV]

"Kaelen... please... I need you..." the AI voice whimpered. "Fuck me, Kaelen..."

I ripped the earbud out and threw it on the desk. My chest heaved. I was breathing hard, like I'd just run ten miles.

On my phone, the video looped.

I had paid a tech team a fortune to make it. In the video, a digital ghost with Sia's face wore a sheer black nightgown... the kind I wanted to tear off her body.

But the high faded fast.

I looked at the screen, at her fake face, and felt sick. Self-loathing crashed over me.

Pathetic.

I was the Summit Alpha. I could have any woman I wanted. Yet here I was, getting off to a fake video of an eighteen-year-old girl.

Fake. It was all fake.

I reached out to close the app. Then, my nose flared.

The scent hit me.

It was faint, drifting through the crack in the door. But to an Alpha, it was loud.

Salty sweat. Vanilla. Wild berries. And underneath... the sweet, heavy smell of an aroused female.

My hand froze.

Sia heard.

I didn't feel shame. I felt a jolt of electricity straight to my groin.

She stood outside my door. She listened to the wet, slapping sounds of my hand. She heard me groan her name.

What did she think? A dark smirk touched my lips. Did she touch herself? Are her little panties wet right now because of her 'Daddy'?

The thought made me hard again. Instantly.

I stood up and moved silently. I followed the scent trail straight to Sia's bedroom.

I turned the handle. Unlocked. Careless girl.

Moonlight filled the room. Sia was curled up in the middle of the big bed, buried under the duvet.

I walked to the edge. My footsteps made no sound.

"Sia," I whispered.

She didn't move. She was faking it.

I could hear her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. Her breathing was too shallow.

She was awake. And she was terrified.

I stood over her, a monster admiring his pet. My eyes traced her shoulder, the curve of her neck where her pulse jumped wildly.

I reached out. My hand hovered inches above her skin.

The heat coming off her was intoxicating.

I imagined grabbing her, pinning her to the mattress, and asking her exactly what she heard. I imagined checking those silk sheets to see if she was as wet as she smelled.

My erection throbbed against my zipper. A painful ache.

Not yet, my rational mind warned. She's scared. Take it slow.

I pulled my hand back, curling my fingers into a fist. Instead, I gently tucked the duvet higher around her shoulder.

I leaned down, lips right at her ear. I knew she could feel my hot breath.

"Good night, my mate," I murmured. A low rumble just for her and her wolf.

She shuddered under the covers.

Satisfied, I turned and walked out. I needed another ice-cold shower.

(Vivian's POV)

2,00 AM.

I collapsed onto the cheap plastic chair.

The pile-up on the interstate was a bloodbath. I had operated for six hours straight. My scrubs were stained, my back was breaking. I just wanted silence.

Click.

The lock turned. My head snapped up.

Leo stood there.

Twenty-six. Blond hair, hazel eyes, broad shoulders. The hospital's golden boy. But tonight, he wasn't smiling.

He leaned against the door, crossing his arms. His biceps strained against his blue scrubs.

"Leo, unlock the door," I sighed. "I need to rest."

"Rest?" He pushed off the door, restless and angry. "Or do you need to go back to that castle? To him?"

"Don't start," I warned, standing up. "I'm doing this for Sia's safety."

"Bullshit," Leo growled. He closed the distance in two strides, backing me up until my hips hit the desk. "You're playing house with Alpha Moneybags."

"He is my fiancé, Leo!"

"He's a statue, Vivian! He's cold and old, and he doesn't look at you the way I do."

Actually, Kaelen was a year younger than me. But before I could speak, Leo's hands grabbed my waist. He hoisted me onto the desk.

He stepped between my legs. His body heat was impossible to ignore. He smelled like antiseptic and sunshine, so different from Kaelen's dark, heavy scent.

"Leo, stop..." My protest was weak.

"Tell me to stop," he challenged, face inches from mine. "Tell me your wolf doesn't want this puppy."

He didn't wait. He crashed his lips onto mine.

It was a hungry, desperate kiss. I gasped, and his tongue tangled with mine.

My hands found his thick, golden hair, pulling him closer.

I melted.

Moon Goddess, I was so tired of being strong. For a moment, I just wanted to be wanted.

Leo's hands roamed over my body. He kneaded my breasts roughly through the scrubs. His other hand slid up my thigh, thumb pressing into my soft flesh.

His fingers thrust deep into my wetness. He shifted angles, probing me. Slick juices ran down his fingers and dripped onto the floor.

When he pulled his fingers out, I rocked my hips against the empty air, needy. He yanked down his waistband and gripped his thick, hard shaft.

Chapter 5

[Vivian's POV]

"Vivi..." he groaned against my mouth, thrusting deep into me. "Don't marry him. Stay with me."

The words were a bucket of cold water.

Reality crashed into me. I was cheating on the most powerful Alpha in the state.

If Kaelen found out, he wouldn't just kill Leo. He would cut off Sia's funding. He would throw us out.

I untangled my legs from his waist and pushed him away.

"No," I gasped, lips swollen. "No, Leo. I can't."

"We can't do this," I said, voice shaking. I jumped off the desk and smoothed down my scrubs. "I have a daughter. I have a duty. Sia is my life."

I couldn't look at the hurt in his puppy-dog eyes. I grabbed my bag and ran.

[Sia's POV]

The dining room was a cold marble tomb.

I sat at the long table, picking at my toast. My eyes burned from lack of sleep. Every time I closed them, I heard Kaelen's groans in the dark.

I felt dirty. Like a criminal.

"Alpha Kaelen," Mom's voice broke the silence. She sat opposite him, looking tired but determined to be the perfect fiancée. "About the engagement party... maybe keep it small? Just the Elders and family?"

Kaelen sat at the head of the table like a king. He wore a white dress shirt, sleeves rolled up, revealing the powerful arms I saw moving in the shadows last night.

He looked up from his coffee and gave Mom a gentle smile. "Whatever you prefer, Vivian. Theo will handle it."

His tone was polite but dismissive.

I should have felt relieved. Instead, a sick knot of jealousy tightened in my chest.

He doesn't want you, a dark voice whispered. He wants the girl on the video.

I shifted in my chair, trying to cross my legs to ease the ache between my thighs.

Suddenly, a heavy weight pressed against my calf under the table.

I froze.

I glanced up. Kaelen was reading his tablet, looking bored. But under the table, his long leg extended, trapping my ankle against the chair.

It wasn't an accident.

Slowly, his calf slid against mine. The friction of his dress pants against my bare skin sent electricity up my spine.

"The flowers..." Mom continued, oblivious. "Roses or lilies?"

"Lilies," Kaelen answered smoothly, sipping his coffee.

At the same time, his foot moved higher. His shoe nudged the inside of my knee, forcing my legs apart.

My breath hitched. My heart hammered against my ribs.

Stop, I begged silently.

But I didn't pull away. I couldn't.

The sensation triggered a flashback to last night. Me outside his door, legs pressed together, listening to him pleasure himself. Touching myself while he called my name.

Sia... you little torment...

My core clenched. I was wet. Again. Right here at the breakfast table.

Kaelen's foot pressed harder, sliding up my shin with possessive arrogance. He knew.

"Sia?" Mom asked. "Roses or lilies?"

I jumped. "I... I..."

Kaelen looked at me. His golden eyes locked onto mine, burning with dark mockery. He pressed his leg against mine, a silent command to submit.

My hand spasmed.

Crash!

My milk glass tipped over. White liquid splashed across the table and onto my lap.

"Oh no!" Mom stood up. "Sia, are you okay?"

"I'm sorry!" I scrambled back, face burning. "I'm clumsy..."

"Sit," Kaelen commanded. His voice was calm, authoritative.

He signaled a servant. "Clean this up."

Then, he stood and walked to me. He picked up a napkin. I shrank back, expecting a scolding. Instead, he leaned down.

"Careful, Sia," he murmured, voice low and raspy.

He dabbed a drop of milk from my hand. His fingers were hot. As he wiped it away, his thumb lingered, caressing my skin in a slow circle.

It was an intimate, dirty gesture disguised as help.

"You seem... distracted," he whispered, lips inches from my ear. "Did you have a restless night?"

I shivered. He was taunting me. He knew I was listening. He knew why I spilled the milk.

"I have to go," Mom interrupted, checking her watch. "I'm late. Sweetie, can you take the bus to campus?"

I opened my mouth to say yes. I needed to escape.

"No need," Kaelen said, dropping the napkin. "The University is next to my office. I'm heading there now. I'll drive her."

"Really?" Mom beamed. "Thank you, Kaelen! You're so good to her."

She grabbed her bag and kissed my cheek. "Bye sweetie, learn something."

"Bye, Mom."

I watched her leave. I was alone with him.

Kaelen turned to me, a cruel, satisfied smirk on his lips. He held out his hand.

"Shall we, daughter?" he drawled, the title dripping with irony. "We have a long ride ahead."

I looked at the open door, then at the Alpha waiting to eat me alive.

I had no choice. I stood up on shaky legs and walked into the trap.

Chapter 6

[Sia's POV]

The black partition of the Rolls-Royce was raised, separating us completely from the driver Beta Theo.

It was just me and Kaelen. The air conditioner was running, but the air felt hot, thick, and suffocating.

I pressed my body as close to the car door as possible. I looked out the window, watching the trees blur by, trying to ignore the massive, predatory Alpha sitting less than a foot away from me.

But it was impossible. His scent, that mix of cedar and gunpowder, filled the small space. It made my head spin. It made my mouth water.

"Did you sleep well last night, Sia?"

His voice broke the silence. It was low and smooth, like velvet wrapped around a knife.

My heart skipped a beat. I didn't dare look at him. "V-very... well, thank you."

"Liar," he chuckled softly.

Suddenly, I heard the click of my seatbelt unbuckling.

I turned around, startled. "What are you..."

"It was twisted," Kaelen said casually. "Safety first, daughter."

He leaned over me.

His broad shoulders blocked out the light. His chest was so close it almost touched my nose. I sensed his cedar scent and was trapped between the leather seat and his hard, hot body.

He pulled the seatbelt across my body slowly. agonizingly slowly.

His forearm pressed firmly against my chest. He applied just enough pressure to make me gasp. The friction of his expensive suit fabric against my thin blouse was electric.

My body betrayed me instantly. My nipples hardened, pushing against the sheer lace of my bra, visibly peaking through my shirt.

Kaelen froze. He looked down, his golden eyes darkening as he stared at my reaction. He didn't pull away. Instead, he pressed his arm a little harder, grinding slightly against my sensitive peaks.

"Ah..." I let out a soft sound.

He smirked, satisfied. He finally clicked the buckle into place, but he didn't move back. He stayed there, hovering over me, his face inches from mine.

"You are very sensitive today," he whispered. His hot breath fanned across my cheek. "Is it because you didn't sleep? I thought you might have heard... strange noises last night."

My face burned.

"The walls in the estate are thin," he murmured, his eyes locking onto my lips. "I hope I didn't keep you up."

He absolutely knew.

I couldn't speak. I just shook my head, my eyes wide with shame and arousal.

Kaelen finally sat back, but he didn't return to his side of the car. He sat right next to me. His thigh pressed firmly against mine, hip to hip. The heat from his leg seeped through my jeans, making my skin tingle.

"So," he said, his tone shifting to casual conversation, though his hand rested possessively on his knee, inches from mine. "What will you study at the University?"

"Biology," I managed to whisper. "I... I want to be a pack doctor. Like Mom."

"A doctor," Kaelen mused. "Then you must know a lot about anatomy. About how the body works."

He reached out and grabbed my hand. His palm was rough, calloused, and scorching hot.

"Tell me, future doctor," he said, pulling my hand toward him. He placed my palm flat against the left side of his chest, right over his heart.

His heart was beating fast. It was powerful, heavy, and erratic. Just like mine.

"Why is my heart racing, Sia?" he asked softly. "Is it adrenaline? Or is it something else?"

I could feel the hard muscle of his pectoral beneath his dress shirt. My fingers trembled. My wolf whined inside me, desperate to touch him more.

"I... I don't know," I breathed.

"Check lower," he commanded.

He slid my hand down. He moved it over his rock-hard abs, letting me feel the tension in his muscles. Then, he moved my hand lower. Toward his belt buckle.

"Why does the Alpha's body react like this when you are near?" he rasped. "My wolf is restless. He wants to hunt."

My hand was dangerously close to the bulge in his trousers. I could feel the heat radiating from him. I was wet. So wet.

My jeans felt uncomfortable against my skin. My scent spiked, filling the car with the smell of vanilla and arousal.

Kaelen inhaled deeply, his eyes fluttering shut for a second. He was enjoying this. He was enjoying my corruption.

"Alpha Kaelen, please..." I tried to pull my hand away.

Suddenly... SCREECH!

The car braked hard.

My body was thrown forward by the momentum.

"Got you."

Kaelen's arm shot out like a steel band. He caught me around the waist before I could hit the partition. He pulled me back effortlessly and unbuckled my seatbelt.

But because of the angle, I didn't land back on the seat.

I landed squarely on his lap.

I was straddling him, my legs open on either side of his hips, facing him.

"Apologies, Alpha!" Theo's voice came through the intercom. "A deer ran onto the road."

"Keep driving," Kaelen growled, not looking away from me.

The car accelerated again, but I didn't move. I couldn't.

I was sitting right on top of him. And he was hard.